By Mandy Harding

Are you feeling guilty about pampering yourself with a massage? Does it seem too self-indulgent? Actually, you should certainly not feel guilty by answering “Yes” because by treating yourself to a regular massage you will reap the rewards of many profound health benefits it generates in our lives.

Massage can help you maintain physical, mental and emotional well being, especially when it is part of your wellness routine.

Massage therapy has been used as a therapeutic measure for generations, and across cultures around the world. Although different types of massage techniques are designed to target specific areas, dysfunctions, and promote natural healing processes, there are some distinctive benefits that can be received from regular massage. Physical benefits range from improved circulation, lower stress levels, and increased flexibility in tense muscles. Mental benefits include: a calm mind, increased awareness, better focus and concentration, and increased alertness.

The better you feel, the more effective you are likely to be in every area of your life. When you think about it, it is just common sense. If you are happy, you will feel motivated and enjoy your work. If you feel refreshed, you will be fun to talk to and establish better relationships. And, if you feel relaxed, you will be more inclined to explore your world, to seek new adventures and to enjoy the possibilities that life provides.

Famed Victorian physician Dr. Dowse, remarked in 1887: “The mind, which before massage is in a perturbed, restless, vacillating, and even despondent state, becomes calm, quiet, peaceful, and subdued after massage. In fact, the wearied and worried mind has been converted into a mind restful, placid, and refreshed.”

Massage therapy is a truly powerful ally to have in your life!

Mandy Harding

I am an Entrepreneur and extremely passionate and enthusiastic about the products I offer and provide articles and ebooks exploring the benefits of these products. Typically the articles and ebooks are offered free, with absolutely no obligation to purchase any products from them but just that you will be inspired in some way.

Don’t delay, visit http://www.DiscoverTheArtOfMassage.com and begin to learn and discover the benefits you will have in your life from the wonderful art of massage!

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By Jan H Schiphorst

A massage does not only relieve a person from the mental and physical stress, but also provides a degree of spirituality and holiness. A massage can take a person to the level of mental satisfaction as well. When you undergo a massage, it is possible that you find yourself plunged into an ocean of peace and satisfaction, where there is no qualm or anxiety prevailing.

A spiritual energy flows in your body when you receive a massage. A massage develops the sense of healing and transformation in your body. A sacred massage follows with it a feeling of safety. This implies that you feel safe both externally as well as internally. External safety means that you think you are secured with your therapist and have full confidence in him. You trust your therapist fully and believe that he is the right person you can rely upon and that he will handle any problems in an intelligent and consistent manner. Internal safety entails developing strength in you and making yourself capable of handling all sorts of pressures and pains and allows you to feel yourself.

You should try to enter into a state of meditation when undergoing a massage. A massage increases the concentration of mind and makes you feel much more energetic and determined. During the whole process of the massage, you should try to follow the strokes and the pressure being applied to your body. This will help you to divert your attention from any negative thoughts that might occur in your mind. A massage helps in reducing your mental distraction and aids in making you an optimist.

You should also concentrate on your breathing process, i.e. the way you inhale and exhale air in and out of your lungs. Do not make an attempt to either slow down or speed up the process of breathing. Breathe in the normal manner; the only thing you have to do is feel your breath.

The most important aspect of a massage is that it should be felt from the innermost feelings of the heart. During the whole process, you should try to concentrate on the steps and the strokes working on your body and the peace and relaxation you are achieving from it. Remember not to endeavor to make your massage a spiritual one. Let it happen its own way and enjoy it as it is. People, who attempt to achieve something out of their massage, just keep striving towards the goal throughout the process and turn out to be empty-handed at the end of the process, without actually gaining any real advantage.

You should try to take pleasure from the outcomes of the massage. A massage will help you to attain peace of mind, relax your body, provide you with a sense of strength and responsibility, respect and kindness for others and last but not the least happiness. A massage that provides you with so many benefits is no doubt a sacred massage.

Provided by: Jan H Schiphorst ProMassageTable.com

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By Jan H Schiphorst

Massage therapy and bodywork are two similar concepts, but with a slightly different meaning. The terms are often used as a substitute for one another. Often people get confused as to what is the difference between the two. Here we cite the definition with a brief explanation of both of them to make you understand the concept clearly:

Massage Therapy

A massage therapy deals mainly with the application of pressure to either the whole body or just some of its parts. There are various professionals available for the purpose. You can even ask your spouse to massage you, but make sure to gather enough information before the commencement of the process. If you visit a massage parlor, then the massage therapist will ask you to remove your clothes if you desire a full body massage. At such a time you will be wrapped in a big towel to cover the private parts of your body. You will be astonished to know that in Thailand people do not even cover the private parts of the body for both men and women when they undertake a full body massage. After the removal of the clothes, you will be made to lie down on your stomach on a massage table or a flat surface and the massage therapist will start applying pressure to your back, shoulders, neck and upper portion of the hips.
These areas bear most of the stress and thus they require more relaxation. After he has worked enough for these parts of your body, he will move on to the arms and legs. This is the whole concept of a massage therapy. The person receiving the massage feels delighted and relaxed after the massage. Some masseurs use massage oils for the massage, which in turn makes the procedure even more effective. A massage can prove to very advantageous if practiced daily or at least 4 times a week. It has many positive consequences like relieving the receiver from tension and boosting the circulatory, nervous and the lymphatic systems.

Bodywork

Bodywork mainly deals with the amalgamation of both the body and the mind. It affects the body by providing it a good and an attractive structure after a certain devoted time and influences the mind by providing it peace and happiness. Bodywork incorporates all the massage therapies in it including the various types of touch and heal therapies. The bodywork mainly deals with an understanding of the human body. It relaxes and refreshes the mind along with the body of the person. It promotes blood circulation as done by the massage therapy as well and also helps in secretion of necessary hormones for the body.

Both the massage therapy and bodywork are thus similar concepts. Bodywork includes giving a massage to a person along with some physical and personal development. These methods are rapidly becoming popular these days, as they help people to get rid of their daily stress and revitalize their mind.

Provided by: Jan H Schiphorst ProMassageTable.com

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By Jan H Schiphorst

Almost every person suffers from some sort of stress these days. School going students have stress due to the pressure of their studies, their homework and their exams. Adults bear this problem as they face difficulties in either their personal or professional life. Old people endure tension as they are either left alone by their own children or they are worried for their bright future. Mothers are worried for the ample amount of workload they have and about their family. Stress and tension does not spare anybody. It creeps into everybody’s mind even without their knowledge.

Stress is a part of life. If you do not feel stressed for a particular thing, definitely you will not make attempts to improve upon it, for example, if a person is not pressurized by his boss to complete a certain task, he will surely not bother to take pains, and if he does not work properly, will never be promoted. He works only because he has a stress or a tension to meet the objective.

Although stress is quiet common these days among all people, yet a persistent and an unceasing stress, might have adverse outcomes for you. A person might suffer from some sorts of mental or psychological disorder or in the worse case some heart disease. A stress makes a person fidgety, unconscious, and deprives him of a sound sleep.

Thus, you should adopt appropriate measures to relieve yourself from stress in its initial stage itself. The most apposite method of reducing stress is getting a massage. A massage provides energy to the body. It minimizes the effect of pains and injuries. It enhances the quality of the skin, improves blood circulation, relieves tightened muscles and last but not the least diminishes the stress providing the receiver with a healthy mind and soul. You can acquire the following types of massages to make you feel better and relaxed:

• Swedish massage: In a Swedish massage a person is worked upon with manipulating strokes all over his body surface to relieve the tension prevailing in his muscles and tissues.

• Aromatherapy: As the name suggests, this massage accompanies with it the sweet smell produced from various massage oils, candles or flowers. These gratifying odors make a person feel relaxed and abstain his stress.

• Deep tissue massage: This massage refers to applying pressure to the deep tissues and muscles of the body to relieve him of his stress.

• Trigger point therapy: This type of massage therapy is used to put some of the contracted muscles of the receiver’s body at ease.

• Shiatsu massage: This massage deals with certain specific points present in your body. If pressure is applied to these points, then a person feels relaxed.

You can find a good and a trustworthy massage therapist to relieve you of your stress by providing you with any one of the above mentioned massages. You can also choose to massage your body yourself; the only thing that needs to be remembered is that you should be aware of the accurate steps for the process.

Provided by: Jan H Schiphorst ProMassageTable.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_H_Schiphorst

By Jan H Schiphorst

Every person feels exhausted and tired after a stressful day. After coming back to home from office a person feels tired and wants some sort of relaxation. Similarly housewives also want some sort of mental and physical peace that soothes them after a tough day. At such a time, a massage can be the most enjoyable and helpful method of revitalization. You can find a good massage therapist for you, but if the massage is provided to you by your spouse, then it will be much more effective and result oriented. This will also help in building a strong bond between the two.

For providing a full body massage to your spouse, the main thing you need to learn is the accurate steps for the process. Until and unless proper hand movements are used for the massage, it will not provide the desired outcome. The correct steps are as follows:

Step 1: You should begin with the neck and upper part of the head. Slowly apply pressure on the neck muscles at the back of the head.

Step 2: If you find some tightened or stressed muscles at that point, try to massage them nicely, so as to provide relief to your spouse.

Step 3: Increase the intensity of the strokes and massage at the side of the neck till your head.

Step 4: Now come to the shoulders and apply pressure with your thumb at that area.

Step 5: At this place you may find some knotty areas. These knots are the indication of tension or stress prevailing in the minds of the people. Try to dissolve these knots, by application of enough pressure with the thumb.

Step 6: Next in the queue are your arms. You should wriggle and wring the arms with the application of enough pressure. Follow the same procedure for the whole arms till the fingertips.

Step 7: Repeat the above step several times.

Step 8: Now come to the back. Work on both the sides of the spine with enough pressure and again dissolving any knots if present in this area.

Step 9: Keep your hands on top of each other and make circular movements all over the back. This provides warmth to the receiver and he feels relaxed.

Step 10: Focus mainly on the lower back or near the upper portion of the hips, as this area is more prone to getting tensed and fatigued.

Step 11: It is the turn of the legs now. The same pattern as adopted for the arms needs to be followed here as well. The legs should be tightly clutched and released from top to the bottom to provide relief to the receiver.

Step 12: Repeat the above step several times.

Step 13: This is the most important of all the above steps. After completing the massage, make the person drink a lot of water or lemon tea. This will help in flushing the toxins generated during the massage out of the body. If the person does not do so, the toxins will be re-absorbed in the body. Thus, making all your efforts fruitless and bringing you back to the same point where you began from.

Provided by: Jan H Schiphorst ProMassageTable.com

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By Jan H Schiphorst

A massage can be extremely helpful to an individual in many ways. Let us consider a few of them:

1. Relaxation: A deep massage that applies pressure to the muscle tissues is the best means to relax after a tiring day or a tough workout. It helps a person to divest himself of the existing stress. The nervous system works better after a massage, thus helping to reduce any physical or emotional stress.

2. Repair of worn out tissues: All athletes tend to damage some of their tissues or muscles after a tough game. It helps to repair the damaged tissues faster and provides a quicker relief.

3. Improved blood circulation: It helps in improving the flow of blood inside the body. The ligaments and tendons smoothen after a massage, thereby improving the rate of flow of blood in the body.

4. Lymphatic system enhanced: A massage helps in the proper functioning of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system of the human body is responsible for removal of all waste materials out of the body such as lactic acid, uric acid and other metabolic wastes. With the proper functioning of the circulatory system and the blood, the lymphatic system also works properly.

5. Improves skin quality: A massage makes your skin shiny and soft.

6. Possible with clothes on: It is a common belief of most people that during a massage it is necessary to remove all their clothes. They just need to remove their clothes when undergoing a back massage. While getting a head, neck, face or shoulder massage, it is not essential to uncover yourself. You can enjoy the bliss of these massages anywhere and with your clothes on. These days many companies provide massage to their employees to make them feel better and work more enthusiastically.

Every person can avail the benefits of a healthy massage. The benefits of a massage to people of various age groups and fields are as follows:

1. Infants: All infants if provided with a massage during their childhood tend to develop much stronger muscles and bones. They also sleep nicely after a massage. It is considered that if a child is massaged by his own mother, it helps in creating a strong bond between the mother and the baby.

2. Youngsters: Young people are often inclined to more stress either due to their work load or due to studies. A massage might help them to get rid of their anxiety.

3. Old aged people: During the old age people become frail, their bones become feeble. A massage helps them to cope up with the old age effects. A touch during the massage by some near one also provides much relief to them.

4. Pregnant mothers: The pregnant mothers can also enjoy the pleasure and advantages of a massage. A massage helps them to recover after the child birth and also makes birth easier and less painful for the mother.

5. Athletes: Athletes get injured during their workouts. A massage helps them to recover faster.

A massage should not be done in the following cases:
1. Deep vein thrombosis
2. Damaged blood vessels
3. A bleeding disorder
4. Weakened bones from osteoporosis, a recent fracture, or cancer
5. A fever
6. An open or healing wound
7. A tumor
8. Damaged nerves
9. An infection or acute inflammation
10. Inflammation from radiation treatment

Provided by: Jan H Schiphorst ProMassageTable.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_H_Schiphorst

Whether you’re a man or a woman wanting to spice up your relationship, you don’t need to go very far into a complex education on sex techniques and positions. I’m not saying these are bad and you shouldn’t use them but, you would be surprised of the amazing benefits massage techniques can have on your sex life.

Let’s look at the first component most people don’t get much in our society. People in relationships that are unfulfilling don’t realize that touch is a major factor keeping an exciting caring and relationship strong. Touch is a need for human beings, and is not just something that people want. It is a deep innate human desire, and if you not practicing it regularly in your relationship, lets just say that’s not a good sign.

The perfect way to achieve this is to use massage techniques regularly and can range from foot rub while you’re watching TV, to a full body massage or 10 minute shoulder rubbed before dinner. Just making a point of incorporating more touch into your relationship consistently can improve communication, trust, and of course, intimacy.

There are several ways massage techniques can do these things. First as I just mentioned it fulfills a deep human second helps you bond your partner sometimes the best communication is through touch with out words. Another major benefit from massage techniques is of course stress reduction. Stress is one of the major reasons for problems with intimacy. When a person is stressed for long periods of time it becomes an unconscious practice, and it’s hard to realize that you’re living in survival mode. During this time all other functions of your body are shut down to a certain extent, including libido. So stress relief should be a major priority for you and your partner and using the proper massage techniques are powerful way to do that.

So as you can see just by using simple massage techniques regularly for a short period of time you can accomplish all this is as well as greatly improve you and your partners overall health. It seems very simple in its but it won’t work unless you do it consistently. After you incorporate massage techniques properly and you set the stage and have the basics covered and will be ready for other techniques for a fulfilling sex life.

Are you ready to start improving you relationship with massage? Get your own award winning massage DVD here massage like a pro in no time. Go to http://stressreliefmassagedvd.com to learn the awesome massage techniques.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raymond_C_Miller

How much to tip a massage therapist can be a confusing thing. On one hand you have the spa massage therapist that can be put in the same group as nail technicians and hair stylists. Another group is sports massage therapists and medical massage therapists. Typically people in the medical profession don’t receive tips for their services. Lastly, what if you are not from the United States? Different countries have different customs. For example, Canada reimburses its citizens for massage, thus massage is seen more as medical service versus a pampering service.

Below are listed the basic rules of how to tip a massage therapist:

Table Massage Tips Basic Rules

Massage therapist in a spa or outcall massage (at your location) - 10-20% of the total bill.

Massage therapist in a medical environment, such as Chiropractor, etc. - normally no tipping*.
Chair Massage Tips Basic Rules

Chair massage that is paid by the customer - 10-20% of the total bill

Chair massage paid by an employer or trade show - normally no tipping*.
*If you do want to tip, ask what the establishment’s guidelines are. Tipping may be against the company’s policies or they might not mind. Each situation is different.

What if you don’t want to tip?

An exception to all of the above is when a customer doesn’t want to tip and it’s not a reflection on the services they received. Customers have a right to not tip because tipping is a courtesy. Many massage therapists I know are grateful for tips and don’t expect them. Tipping, and how much, is ultimately the decision of the customer.

Beware Hidden Tips

Lastly, a word of caution; in many tourist areas, a spa or salon will add a tip to the bill for the customer - without asking! This is an automatic process at many places. Then, because the customer is not aware of this, the customer will add a tip to the bill not realizing they’re double tipping! This is an unfortunate reality that massage customers need to protect themselves from.

Hopefully this has answered all your massage tip questions. Remember, if in doubt; ask the massage therapist or company. They will be pleased that you care enough to want to tip.

A-Team Massage Orlando trust your loved ones with us, the best Orlando massage therapists in town!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_Woodall

By Jan H Schiphorst

With the advent of old age, the bones start becoming feeble, muscles lose their tightness and the person becomes frail and lethargic. A number of diseases accompany with old age such as Arthritis, Alzheimer, Cardiac problems or joint pain. A person becomes weak and inactive, not able to move, sit or eat properly. He loses all his enthusiasm and just waits for his end to approach.

A massage can work as a magic or boon for these old people. It helps to give a new lease of life to them. It refreshes their body providing strength to their bones and muscles. It speeds up the process of healing in their body and helps make them much more active. A massage therapy directly lessens the effects of aging.

The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has begun with the work of promotion of massage therapy to make people aware of its immediate benefits. A major sector of society still remains ignorant of the miracles of a massage.

According to a recent study conducted by the Touch Research Institute it has been found that massage is very helpful to cure Alzheimer patients. A massage provides relaxation to the body of the sufferers and also promotes communication. Arthritis patients can also be cured with the aid of a massage. Arthritis is the disease of bones. It makes the bones fragile and weak in the old age. A massage provides vigor to these weak bones, thus helping the person to recover faster. The mobility and the flexibility of the body get enhanced after a massage.

A massage also helps reducing joint pain; which is quite common during the old age. It improves the interaction of muscles with one another. The muscles of the aged people often become tensed; a massage helps to reduce tension from these muscles, making them more relaxed. A massage can prove helpful for attaining mental stability for an old person. People often lose concentration and mental constancy after a certain age. Massage helps an old person to regain attentiveness of mind.

Our body is thought to be composed of various energy levels. The level of energy gets disturbed during the old age. A massage helps to achieve a constant energy level, so that its receiver acquires physical strength, improved health, emotional comfort and spiritual thought.

The use of massage therapy to cure people from various diseases is becoming widespread among many people these days. People have started admiring this new concept. The major benefits of a massage can be derived only if people undergo this process with a relaxed mind.

Old age is that stage of life where the need of warmth and touch is the most. A massage therapy provides this to its recipients. Often the aged people have to resort to the usage of medicines for getting a relief from their problems. A massage along with the usual course of medicines makes healing quicker and easier.

Provided by: Jan H Schiphorst ProMassageTable.com

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If you perform a sensual massage on someone you love correctly this will create a loving bond between you like nothing you have felt before. However to ensure that you do it correctly you must make sure that you partner is comfortable before you begin.

Below we offer some tips that could prove useful and help to ensure that your partner is comfortable before you begin the massage.

Tip 1 - You need to make sure that the surface on which your partner is to lay whilst the massage is carried out is strong enough to take the weight. Although a massage table is best if not a bed or the floor can be used instead. Why not get a soft sheepskin rug on which they can and will further add to the feelings that the massage are creating inside them.

Tip 2 - It is important that you provide your partners head with plenty of support as you carrying out the massage. So either place a cushion or rolled up towel underneath their head to give them the support it needs.

Tip 3 - Initially your partner may feel a little self conscious about lying naked in front of you when you are giving them a sensual massage. So provide them with some towels or a sheet that they can use to cover up the areas of the body which you are not working on. Plus providing a cover will help them to remain warm. A cold person will find it far more difficult to become relaxed no matter how good you are at giving a sensual massage.